A MAN who was set to take over the lease of a pub before it was badly damaged by fire has vowed to get the business back on its feet.
Pub leaseholder Rob Lewis is facing an unexpected uphill struggle after agreeing to take over the Lifeboat Inn, on Phoenix Street, Sandycroft.
The first floor of the pub was left with shattered windows and severe smoke and fire damage after a blaze at 10.25pm on Sunday, from which 84 drinkers and staff escaped.
One person was treated by paramedics at the scene for ankle injuries, after jumping out of a first floor window.
Three crews, from Deeside and Buckley, used two hose reels and four sets of breathing equipment to tackle the blaze and the ground floor of the pub escaped damage.
Mr Lewis, who currently owns the lease on the nearby New Inn, had been preparing to take over the Lifeboat on Friday, July 31.
He said: “The pub will obviously not be able to open now, which is really disappointing.“It will require some serious investment and renovation to put it right again.
“I will still be opening the doors at some point, but I will have to do a lot of work first.”
A probe into the cause of the blaze has been launched by the fire service and North Wales Police, who are appealing for witnesses.
Anyone with information can call officers on 0845 607 1002.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Flintshire firm reassures staff after job rumours
By Laura Jones
BOSSES at a Flintshire-based food testing firm have moved to quash rumours that it is going into administration.
ALcontrol Laboratories on Hawarden Industrial Park has sent out letters to its 300 Flintshire employees, reassuring them the company is “OK”, following claims in the national press that administrators Zolfo Cooper had been lined up to move in.
Simon Gibbs, chief executive of ALcontrol, said the reports were “alarmist and untrue”.
He said: “We are a profitable company that is trading well and the forecast for the business is a positive one.
“We have hired Zolfo Cooper as corporate finance advisors, not as administrators.”
After a report was published this weekend, Mr Gibbs moved to reassure workers at the Hawarden-based laboratory that the company was “not in crisis".
“These stories scare people, but we want to reassure them that they have nothing to worry about,” he added.
“We have appointed corporate finance advisors for future planning and we are in negotiations with the banks – but we are still a stable and sound business.”
The company, which moved to Hawarden three years ago, tests soil, water, food, oil and air for contaminants or hazardous substances.
ALcontrol Laboratories has more than 2,000 employees in 30 laboratories and service centres, in 11 countries across Europe.
BOSSES at a Flintshire-based food testing firm have moved to quash rumours that it is going into administration.
ALcontrol Laboratories on Hawarden Industrial Park has sent out letters to its 300 Flintshire employees, reassuring them the company is “OK”, following claims in the national press that administrators Zolfo Cooper had been lined up to move in.
Simon Gibbs, chief executive of ALcontrol, said the reports were “alarmist and untrue”.
He said: “We are a profitable company that is trading well and the forecast for the business is a positive one.
“We have hired Zolfo Cooper as corporate finance advisors, not as administrators.”
After a report was published this weekend, Mr Gibbs moved to reassure workers at the Hawarden-based laboratory that the company was “not in crisis".
“These stories scare people, but we want to reassure them that they have nothing to worry about,” he added.
“We have appointed corporate finance advisors for future planning and we are in negotiations with the banks – but we are still a stable and sound business.”
The company, which moved to Hawarden three years ago, tests soil, water, food, oil and air for contaminants or hazardous substances.
ALcontrol Laboratories has more than 2,000 employees in 30 laboratories and service centres, in 11 countries across Europe.
Two attacked and beaten by samurai raiders at Flintshire pub
By Michael Youds
ROBBERS armed with baseball bats and a Samurai sword raided a Flintshire pub, and continued attacking their helpless victims even after they had handed over the cash.
A customer was tied up and threatened with the blade during the terrifying robbery at the Coach and Horses in Flint Mountain, which has sparked a major police hunt.
The pub manager was beaten badly, and is still in hospital with serious injuries.
Stuart Bickerton-Starkey, director of Lovely Day Inns, which owns the pub, said: “This is the most severe and shocking crime I’ve ever known of in all my time in the pub industry.
“These two men put up no resistance but were still being attacked and beaten after they had handed over the money, which shows you the mentality of the people who did this.
“They should not be allowed to get away with it, and we will be offering a cash reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of these criminals.”
Three men, whose faces were hidden with clothing, burst into the pub just before 1am on Monday as it was closing for the night.
They demanded cash, punched the manager and beat him with baseball bats.
The thugs also tied up the customer, who is in his early 40s, and threatened to slit his throat with a samurai sword if he moved.
Mr Bickerton-Starkey said: “The manager, who is by no means a big lad, is still in hospital with very serious injuries.
“He was due to go on holiday next week to celebrate his 30th birthday, but obviously that won’t be happening now.
“We are like a family in this company and our staff are devastated by what happened.
“We never hold significant amounts of cash in our pubs, for safety and insurance reasons.
“These people need to be caught for the safety of the general public. We won’t rest until they are brought to justice.”
Detectives want to hear from a group of customers who left just before the raid.A North Wales Police spokesman said: “The employee sustained injuries to his arm, upper body and leg.
“The customer also sustained arm injuries and both were later taken to Glan Clwyd Hospital in Bodelwyddan by ambulance, having sustained injuries which are not believed to be life threatening.
“All three who entered the pub are described as wearing dark clothes and had most of their faces hidden with clothing.”
Witnesses should call Mold CID on 0845 607 1002, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
ROBBERS armed with baseball bats and a Samurai sword raided a Flintshire pub, and continued attacking their helpless victims even after they had handed over the cash.
A customer was tied up and threatened with the blade during the terrifying robbery at the Coach and Horses in Flint Mountain, which has sparked a major police hunt.
The pub manager was beaten badly, and is still in hospital with serious injuries.
Stuart Bickerton-Starkey, director of Lovely Day Inns, which owns the pub, said: “This is the most severe and shocking crime I’ve ever known of in all my time in the pub industry.
“These two men put up no resistance but were still being attacked and beaten after they had handed over the money, which shows you the mentality of the people who did this.
“They should not be allowed to get away with it, and we will be offering a cash reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of these criminals.”
Three men, whose faces were hidden with clothing, burst into the pub just before 1am on Monday as it was closing for the night.
They demanded cash, punched the manager and beat him with baseball bats.
The thugs also tied up the customer, who is in his early 40s, and threatened to slit his throat with a samurai sword if he moved.
Mr Bickerton-Starkey said: “The manager, who is by no means a big lad, is still in hospital with very serious injuries.
“He was due to go on holiday next week to celebrate his 30th birthday, but obviously that won’t be happening now.
“We are like a family in this company and our staff are devastated by what happened.
“We never hold significant amounts of cash in our pubs, for safety and insurance reasons.
“These people need to be caught for the safety of the general public. We won’t rest until they are brought to justice.”
Detectives want to hear from a group of customers who left just before the raid.A North Wales Police spokesman said: “The employee sustained injuries to his arm, upper body and leg.
“The customer also sustained arm injuries and both were later taken to Glan Clwyd Hospital in Bodelwyddan by ambulance, having sustained injuries which are not believed to be life threatening.
“All three who entered the pub are described as wearing dark clothes and had most of their faces hidden with clothing.”
Witnesses should call Mold CID on 0845 607 1002, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Wrexham team helps thousands claim welfare benefits
By Matt Sims
MORE than £5 million has been secured in benefits for residents in Wrexham by the local authority’s welfare rights workers.
The team has helped nearly 3,000 clients in the county claim benefits they were entitled to including disability living allowance, attendance allowance, housing and council tax benefit and pension credit.
They work with partner organisations such as the Shooting Star Unit at Wrexham Maelor Hospital, Nightingale House Hospice, Communities First areas and Warm Wales.
Staff were praised by Cllr Joan Lowe, lead member for social care, who paid a visit to their premises in New Broughton after it was revealed a total of £5.6 million additional benefits had been secured for Wrexham residents.
Cllr Lowe said: “I met with the team recently and was very surprised and delighted to hear that they have been able to help so many of their clients get the financial support they were entitled to.
Often, when our lives are affected by changes in health and welfare circumstances, financial worries can bring even greater pressures and to have help during such times must be a great comfort and relief to clients.”
For anyone who lives in Wrexham and would like telephone advice on benefit entitlement issues, the unit can be contacted on 01978 298254.
MORE than £5 million has been secured in benefits for residents in Wrexham by the local authority’s welfare rights workers.
The team has helped nearly 3,000 clients in the county claim benefits they were entitled to including disability living allowance, attendance allowance, housing and council tax benefit and pension credit.
They work with partner organisations such as the Shooting Star Unit at Wrexham Maelor Hospital, Nightingale House Hospice, Communities First areas and Warm Wales.
Staff were praised by Cllr Joan Lowe, lead member for social care, who paid a visit to their premises in New Broughton after it was revealed a total of £5.6 million additional benefits had been secured for Wrexham residents.
Cllr Lowe said: “I met with the team recently and was very surprised and delighted to hear that they have been able to help so many of their clients get the financial support they were entitled to.
Often, when our lives are affected by changes in health and welfare circumstances, financial worries can bring even greater pressures and to have help during such times must be a great comfort and relief to clients.”
For anyone who lives in Wrexham and would like telephone advice on benefit entitlement issues, the unit can be contacted on 01978 298254.
Wrexham 'psychic' made 70 hoax 999 calls
By Claire Gallagher
A WOMAN has admitted making 70 hoax calls to the emergency services.
Julie Ann Pritchard made the calls from her Llangollen home and on one occasion said she was psychic and thought something ‘bad would happen’.
Wrexham magistrates court heard that on most occasions Pritchard, 48, was drunk and during one call asked the operator for a taxi.
Pritchard, of Hill Street, admitted making the hoax calls on May 31, June 1, June 2, June 11 and June 12.
She admitted 29 offences in court and was fined for 41 of the remaining offences.
Emily Downing, prosecuting, said: “When she was making the calls other genuine calls could not get through.
“On May 31, she phoned 999 at 6.24pm and wasn’t making any sense.“She called to say she wasn’t abusing 999.
“At 7pm she said she wanted to press charges against another member of her family.“The officer attended and she refused to open the door.”
Miss Downing said that at 7.22pm Pritchard called again and when the operator told her to stop phoning 999 she told them to “hush.”She phoned again at 7.38pm, 7.41pm and 7.52pm.
The court heard that on June 1, Pritchard called 999 four times.
On June 2 and 3 she made more calls when “intoxicated,” Miss Downing said.
“At 39 minutes past midnight on June 4 she called to say she does not like the people of Llangollen,” she said.“She also said she called to have a ‘talk’.”
During the same call she said she had cooked a meal for her boyfriend and that they were going to watch a film.
On June 11, Pritchard called to say she thought something bad would happen because she was psychic.“She was abusive and slurring her words,” said Miss Downing.
On June 12, she said she had to get a taxi for her friend and the operator told her that 999 was not a taxi service.
At 8.15pm on this day Pritchard phoned and began talking about ‘historic incidents’, Miss Downing said.
Gavin Rogers, defending, said: “She has indicated that she is very sorry for what she has done.
“Drink has played a big part in the case.“She is a lonely person, she gets depressed and has panic attacks.”
Mr Rogers added that she had a history of mental health problems.
Magistrates adjourned the case to enable the probation service to prepare a pre-sentence report.
She was granted conditional bail not to contact the emergency services without good reason.
She will appear back at Wrexham magistrates on August 14 for sentence.
A WOMAN has admitted making 70 hoax calls to the emergency services.
Julie Ann Pritchard made the calls from her Llangollen home and on one occasion said she was psychic and thought something ‘bad would happen’.
Wrexham magistrates court heard that on most occasions Pritchard, 48, was drunk and during one call asked the operator for a taxi.
Pritchard, of Hill Street, admitted making the hoax calls on May 31, June 1, June 2, June 11 and June 12.
She admitted 29 offences in court and was fined for 41 of the remaining offences.
Emily Downing, prosecuting, said: “When she was making the calls other genuine calls could not get through.
“On May 31, she phoned 999 at 6.24pm and wasn’t making any sense.“She called to say she wasn’t abusing 999.
“At 7pm she said she wanted to press charges against another member of her family.“The officer attended and she refused to open the door.”
Miss Downing said that at 7.22pm Pritchard called again and when the operator told her to stop phoning 999 she told them to “hush.”She phoned again at 7.38pm, 7.41pm and 7.52pm.
The court heard that on June 1, Pritchard called 999 four times.
On June 2 and 3 she made more calls when “intoxicated,” Miss Downing said.
“At 39 minutes past midnight on June 4 she called to say she does not like the people of Llangollen,” she said.“She also said she called to have a ‘talk’.”
During the same call she said she had cooked a meal for her boyfriend and that they were going to watch a film.
On June 11, Pritchard called to say she thought something bad would happen because she was psychic.“She was abusive and slurring her words,” said Miss Downing.
On June 12, she said she had to get a taxi for her friend and the operator told her that 999 was not a taxi service.
At 8.15pm on this day Pritchard phoned and began talking about ‘historic incidents’, Miss Downing said.
Gavin Rogers, defending, said: “She has indicated that she is very sorry for what she has done.
“Drink has played a big part in the case.“She is a lonely person, she gets depressed and has panic attacks.”
Mr Rogers added that she had a history of mental health problems.
Magistrates adjourned the case to enable the probation service to prepare a pre-sentence report.
She was granted conditional bail not to contact the emergency services without good reason.
She will appear back at Wrexham magistrates on August 14 for sentence.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Post-match interview with Chester City boss Simon Davies
The Evening Leader speaks to Chester city manager Simon Davies straight after Chester's 1 - 1 draw against Bury at the Deva Stadium.
http://www.eveningleader.co.uk/chester-city/VIDEO-Simon-Davies-postmatch-interview.4469183.jp
http://www.eveningleader.co.uk/chester-city/VIDEO-Simon-Davies-postmatch-interview.4469183.jp
Nike trainers could hold key to killer of Wrexham grandmother
North Wales Police have held a press conference to mark the third anniversary of the death of Wrexham pensioner, Elsie Hughes.
Elsie Hughes, 90, found battered to death at her home on on Hawarden Road, Abermorddu, near Hope, North Wales on September 8, 2005.
Today, on the third anniversary of her death North Wales Police have revealed that footprints from a Nike Court Tradition trainer were found in the house.
To watch the North Wales Police press conference, and to read this story in full, follow the link below:
http://www.eveningleader.co.uk/news/Nike-trainers-clue-in-hunt.4468377.jp
Elsie Hughes, 90, found battered to death at her home on on Hawarden Road, Abermorddu, near Hope, North Wales on September 8, 2005.
Today, on the third anniversary of her death North Wales Police have revealed that footprints from a Nike Court Tradition trainer were found in the house.
To watch the North Wales Police press conference, and to read this story in full, follow the link below:
http://www.eveningleader.co.uk/news/Nike-trainers-clue-in-hunt.4468377.jp
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